Saskatchewan Female Development Model

Memorandum

To: SHA Membership

From: Kelly McClintock, General Manager

Re: Saskatchewan Female Development Model

November 13, 2018

Sasktchewan Female Development Model

During the past three years, the Saskatchewan Hockey Association’s Board of Directors have undertaken an initiative to grow Female Hockey in the Province. The following is an outline of the steps taken within the initiative;

Elimination of thirteen-year-old females being able to register or affiliate to all Midget Female teams, including Midget AAA, to promote the creation of more Bantam Female teams in 2016

Creation of a SHA Minor/Female Development Committee to address the structure of both Minor and Female Hockey in the Province in 2017

Mandating that Female Leagues in both the Northern and Southern half of the province have identical age divisions for Female teams/Players in 2017/18; Midget AA, Midget A, Bantam A, Pee Wee A.

Closing of Saskatoon and Regina to Female players from outside the two cities to stimulate Minor Hockey Associations around the two cities to administer and offer Female Hockey Programming for 2018/19 season. Decision made and MHA’s notified in April, 2017.

Creation of the Sask Female Hockey League

Moved North and South Leagues under one governance/administrative League

Development of a Proposed Sask Female Development Model

Feedback from Membership through Zone Meetings with MHA’s in attendance throughout 2017 and early 2018

Review of other Branches within the Hockey Canada Structure who have undertaken similar initiatives in 2017

Circulation of a Final Proposal to the Membership in January 2018 which involved the following;

Female Midget AAA

Reduce to seven teams from eight

The SHA determines the location of the teams and all existing teams must reapply to be considered

Make Midget AAA “age appropriate” – only Midget Aged girls participating. Annually there are 17 to 22 Bantam aged female registered in the League

Female Midget AA

Reduce to ten teams from twelve

The SHA determines the location of the teams however there must be one in each of the Midget AAA locations determined

Female Bantam AA

To create a six to eight team Provincial Bantam AA League which provides a higher calibre of Bantam competition for Bantam aged girls

The SHA determines the location of the teams however there must be one in each of the Midget AAA locations determined

A deliberate move of the SHA to have “Age Appropriate” age divisions within the Sask Female Development Model

The SHA to receive applications from interested Minor Hockey Associations (MHA) by October 1, 2018

The SHA created a Task Group from the SHA Minor/Female Development Committee to review the applications received; determine where the best locations of teams would be; and make recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Items considered in the review of the applications were;

Registrations of all female players in all age groups regionally throughout the province and surrounding potential Female Midget AAA programs

The MHA having an established Female Program

The MHA providing sufficient local Coaching Resources

The MHA providing billeting options for Midget AAA Females including a billeting coordinator

The MHA providing an educational Consultant along with a including a written working agreement with a local high school for Midget AAA Females

The MHA must also be able to sustain a Midget AA program for the availability of affiliates

Must be able to sustain a Female Midget AAA team of a minimum of 15 skaters and 2 goaltenders

The SHA Board of Directors met on Saturday and Sunday, November 10 and 11, 2018 whereupon the following recommendations within the SHA Female Development Model were approved for the location of teams for the 2019/20 hockey season;

Female Midget AAA (7 teams)

North Battleford

Notre Dame

Prince Albert

Regina

Saskatoon

Swift Current

Weyburn

Female Midget AA (11 teams)

Melville

North Battleford

Northeast (Star City)

Notre Dame

Prince Albert

Regina

Saskatoon

Swift Current

Warman

Western Prairie (Rosetown)

Weyburn

Female Bantam AA (7 Teams)

North Battleford

Prince Albert

Regina

Saskatoon

Swift Current

Warman

Weyburn

It is important to note the SHA Minor/Female Development Committee will conduct an annual review for all Leagues within an assessment of the Model. The review will involve some or all, of the following;

Assessment of the number of teams at each age division and category and determine whether there is a need to add teams as the base of Female players grows. The desire is to create a “pyramid” structure of teams whereby a larger base in the lower age groups assists in developing players for what the SHA feels is the elite category for Minor Female Hockey, that being Midget AAA

To assess in future years when to add Female Pee Wee AA to the model as the base of Female players grows

Survey of MHA’s who have teams on items such as the impact of the female hockey growth in the community and region; support of the community; how the league was run

Survey of players and parents on items such as the players experience; player’s development both on and off ice; coaching satisfaction; educational experiences; billeting experiences;

Survey of coaches on items such as the coaches actual experience with the team; support of MHA and community; use of coaching resources; outline of what skill deficiencies exist within the league

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the SHA Office.